My latest, favorite Canadian import is Jean 'N Classics. They are a London, Ontario based group of rock musicians, who understand orchestra culture, and are committed to helping build younger and sustainable audiences for symphony orchestras. The symphonies stretch their repertories and appeal to a wider audience. Jean 'N Classics play with Symphonies all over the world (the Beatles, Queen, Motown and other popular favorites) and last Saturday‘s event was the Tucson Symphony and an evening of Eagles music. How great is that?

The room was packed with a lot of us baby boomers who loved the Eagles then and love the Symphony now. There were 50 or 60 people on the stage. The Symphony members, and the Jean 'N Classics’ lead singer, guitarist, drummer, keyboards/piano, two great back up singers and their own Jean 'N Classics conductor. The lead singer, was a great entertainer. and knew how to warm up the audience and include the Symphony every step of the way. He also sounded a lot like Don Henley so that helped. I never thought I would find myself dancing in front of my seat in a Symphony concert, but we were doing that last Saturday for the final Heartache Tonight… but I’m getting ahead of myself.

The first half were familiar Eagles hits and 2 or 3 of Don Henley’s solo efforts. Desperado was particularly good with a lovely piano solo and the lead singer was up in the balcony working the crowd with All she wants to do is Dance. We were clapping our hands and singing along and having a great time with Get Over It and having a lot of fun.

The second half was the whole of Hotel California Album straight through, and they did a really good job on the title track Hotel California. Bongo drums were used as the slow intro, and a Symphony solo violinist accompanying the main guitarist for that long section of Hotel California where Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy Schmit, would play guitar. It was great. Lots of strings and some brass.

I hope the Tucson Symphony brings Queen or Motown next. If they do - we will be back. We had a great evening.